Sunday, November 19, 2006
-10:41 AM
Yesterday was "So you think you can scream" in my church, and it absolutely rocked. It's time. It's time for my life to make a scream about Jesus.
So what are we screaming about? Some people scream through their blogs, or even through cutting themselves. Screaming doesn't have to be outward, you might be screaming in your heart.
Well, your life has to scream about Jesus. Does it? Is your life victorious or defeated? Is your life filled with God's wonders or just a wander?
There are 3 people who made a scream through eternity.
Mat 2 The three wise men--Magi--chased Jesus Christ when he was born to
worship him. They brought Jesus 3 gifts. If you want your life to scream about Jesus, follow these 3 things.
1. Gold--Pure worship
- Gift of sincerity.
- Our worship has to be geniune. The heart of worship comes from your heart.
- Worship is about the ultimate surrender to Jeus Christ. Surrending is often associated with failure, with losing. But this surrender brings breakthroughs and transformation. This surrender brings victory.
- Unsincere worship is like taking a coke, spitting in it and giving it to God.
2. Frankincense--Scent
- "And live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. " Ephesian 5:12
- Just as Jesus offered himself as a fragant offering, we too must follow him.
3. Myrrh--Living sacrifices
- The greatest gift to someone who has it all is yourself.
- "Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God--this is your spiritual act of worship." Romans 12:1
- No longer should we control our own lifes. God should control it and use it in the big picture. Once again, surrender.
We sang this wonderful song in this worship experience. It goes like that.
"I like you, I love you.
I want more to see.
Without you Jesus, they will be no me.
I wished I had a symphony.
But my simple gift is me."
God, my life is yours.
Friday, November 17, 2006
-4:27 PM
"Here is where the road divides, here is where we realise the sculpting of our Father's great design. Through times you've been a friend to me, but time is now the enemy, I wished we didn't have to say goodbye."
Today is the last day of school. The day I've been dreading since P5. I knew I was going to miss my friends and DLS, but not to such an extent. "I need a memory for the last day of school", I thought. And so I decided to stay back in school for a final farewell tour of DLS.
This is going to be an totally unplanned and uncensored tour of DLS, just like the first time we were here--young, dumb, innocent. Me, Shawn, Nathan, Joel and Jonas began on the tour. (order might be wrong, but what the heck)
Our starting point was, of course, the canteen. Ah, the canteen. The place where out-of-this-world food was served to us. The canteen. The school canteen. It does have a ring to it, like the only place where you could lose your mind and escape from the WMD(Weapons of Mass-destruction) of most--and i emphasise the word "most" which is not all--teachers: nagging and scolding. Haha. I remember the first time I bought food from the canteen. It was during orientation, and I went to the seat singing, "I'm so proud of myself! How clever I am!" That of course was the pure innoncence in me that time talking. So, my tour group ate our last bowl of noodles, and made a toast to the friendship that lasted us through all times. It was time to move on.
We moved on to the basketball court. I seem to have my share of injuries there. Joel tore my shirt there; I got hit by the basketball at least 15 times; and I got elbowed, hit and battered an equal number of times. If you are a delicate person, I do not suggest basketball. And yet, I sprung up at incredible(to me) 9cm playing basketball. Basketball really suits the little hobbit friend of mine, Jonas.
The drainage pipe next to the basketball was our passageway into the field. This was where countless of unfortunate people have finished their 1.6km run, tongues hanging like a pathetic dog, chest heaving like some retarded puffer fish, and muscles burning like I-don't-know-what. I'm not embarrassed to say that i was one of them. I might even say that I'm proud of relieving myself there before(P3).
We stepped into the football field. This was probably the fighting ring of the school. Shakthi fought(and beat up) Keenan, two different teams clashed for some kind of racial riot lunacy(ironically on Racial Harmony Day) etc. Luckily, Shakthi has now converted from soccerism to basketballism. We attacked the thing that caused all this fights--the goal post. We ram into the net and post. Nathan got tangled up, so we left him there to rot and die.(joking) We moved out of the battlefield, who knows how many land mines have been planted.
From there, we moved into the Eco-garden. Wait, is that the Eco-garden? It's some kind of puny fruit tree plantation at the back of the soccer field. Ah, whatever it is, the fruit trees are puny. There're not even fruit trees, they're just trees. Oh, we used to hunt for spiders there. And i remember the Science trail. We stumbled on the place Godzilla(our frog) landed when he jumped over the third-storey ledge to his freedom. We looked for the remains of Godzilla. Nothing. Moving on.
From there we exited the "Eco-garden" and went to the P1 class room blocks. We had a small toilet-break and realised how short we were in P1 when we saw the platform raised specially for Jonas/Hobbit-like P1s. We then went to the small little garden in the middle of the classroom blocks. "Insect cemetery", I like to call it, as me and shawn bury dead insects in paper coffins there.
We really didn't know where to go next. We moved to the General office area and saw what I believe to be Eunice, Kelly Ang, Amanda, Celeste and Gina. Took a few pictures, which I do not understand why. We finally saw the real Eco-garden, you know the one with waterwheel spinning, and went in. We sat under the umbrella with a bench and had a spot of low-tea. The girl-group came in when having low-tea, and so we continued exploring. We found the place where we saw two grasshoppers doing what their instinct tells them to do--to reproduce and
you know what i mean. Then we went into the Aquaponics rearing area. I remember a group of us trying to grow plants there. The plants eventually died because we often forgot to turn on the sprinkler. Not today. I turned on the sprinkler, and it was the musical "Singing in the Rain II". We walked out of the Eco-garden fairly refraished by the man-made rain.
We walked to the carpark, where I so often walked to the bus, slapping Shanash whenever I see her. We walked into so kind of what appeared to be a garbage dump with plants, where the leaf trail was held. It was a usual haunt for cleaners having medium-tea. We set down on the bench to catch our breath. I opened the door of what appeared to be a store room, and was shocked--shocked is actually an understatement--by what I saw. I silently closed the door and said,"Run. There's a guard sleeping in there." We dashed out. I sure hoped we didn't wake up the guard.
We went into the canteen from behind and walked to the PE room. There, we took balls and just started bouncing. We eventually had to rush out in a jiffy in fear of teacher, but hey, it was worth it.
We moved on to the
DLS@Play (why is my words blue). We had made a fool out of ourself countless times there. We also sit there during the Science Fair 2005, while waiting for our group to finish their station in the Robotics Lab. Ironically, we got scolded by Mr Yeo for doing our job. We played the number game for the last time. We moved on to the fish pond. Man, do the fish look bad. One of the fish had a deep cut on it's back. That's probably because it tried to kill itself after living a life of misery, bobbing around like a lifeless coconut. We even thought we saw a dead fish lieing in a "Fish Cemetery"(our school has two cemeteries? that's a first).
From there, we moved to the library, and on finding that it was locked, moved up to the second storey. We went to the AVA room, and cleaners were inside. We went to the Language room. No one was inside, except for the presence that Elvin had left in it after showing off his dictatorship skills for entrepenuership day.
We then moved back stage when they were having a concert.(really) Nathan opened the door to the stage, and we went onto stage.(with a curtain blocking us of course) Suddenly, a teacher called out to us. We thought it was the end. Turned out she was looking for an AV monitor, and Nathan saved us. We found the foam mattress which our class ruined when we were waiting for our turn to go on stage. Our class has performed a few times there before, and come on, waiting for your turn can be extremely boring. Why not mindlessly destroy some things while waiting?
When Nathan was finished, he had to go. So we bid berboi farewell and moved on. We moved on to behind the hall, where M:I:IX was carried out during the motivational camp, where we ran in and out of the hall without teachers knowing. We crawled over some deflated mattress and saw a jumping spring at the side, presumably for people to jump over. Ah, the place where we poured water over the cars below.
We went to the computer lab(not sure whether it's 1, 2 or 3), and there were people inside. The prayer room, and locked. Music room, people inside. Is there a room that is not locked and free of people? Went to the corridor with benches music room. A special corridor for that matter. We were here just this year, waiting for our injections like convicts waiting for execution. Another toilet break and water cooler refreshment, and we went back to the corridor benches and sat down, talking about the simpsons. But time's a wastin', so we moved on.
We climbed to the third-storey, where we walked past the Maths room and counselling room. Strange. No one in my six years ever needed to go into that room. The mystery of keeping sane. We then ran Counter-strike style to the Social Studies room. And man, were we hot. Shawn and I, stupid as ever, ran into the room. Lucky us. A teacher was just passing by. We hid behind the door, calm. Calm! What the! How do we remain calm when a teacher is passing by the door! Little did we know, but the teacher actually opened the door and peeked inside the room. Who knows? Either she was supernaturally blinded, or me and shawn just picked the right hiding place. We came out smiling, as if this was part of daily life. Erm. Right.
We then circled the staffroom and went into the art room. The art room. Where we discovered Mrs Loh's anger management problem."Ern Chuen! Don't waste the paint! Each one $10!" Sweet memories. And then we went into the science room, admiring Shawn's "beautiful" work of art. Yeah.
We went to the PA room and Counter-strike style once again opened the door. We actually heard some voices but don't know where it came from, no one was in that room. For the third time today, we dashed out in a jiffy.(come to think of it, this is a part of daily life) Scary? No. Fun? Of Course.
We went down again and took the bridge to the P5 classroom blocks. The bridge, as it is affectionately known, is often used to "ferry"(is that a correct word?) us to the classroom blocks. We then went to another haunt of the cleaners, the table just in front of the bridge. It was there that I missed a supplementary lessons. Oh c'mon, it's not my fault. It's Cheam's fault for picking of all places, a cleaner's haunt for supplementary.
We took yet another water break.(how much water does one actually need? We could drown ourselves drinking too much!) We climbed up to the third floor again and looked into the classroom for the last time. Everything happened there, and I really mean everything. Vivek threw an apple onto the wall(leaving a permanent mark...), Elvin's pencil box was thrown into the fan by yours truly, evverrything....Moving on.
We now approach the climax of our tour. We were saving it for the last part of the tour. It was time to scale the highest point in DLS, the clock tower. And there it looms, over DLS. Why on earth do we want to climb the clock tower? What a stupid question! Bcos it's there! And lo and behold, guess who we meet there? ------- and -----.(sry, I have to keep the names classified) They too have tried to climb the clock tower, but was driven down by nothing else but fear I guess. I have no idea how ------, ----- ---, ------ and ---- suddenly materialised in front of me. Back to the story. Jonas, Me, ------- and ---- were to make the first ascent to the top--and i emphasise the word top, not halfway--of the clocktower. The rest will stay down there and keep watch, which I admit gives me some peace of mind. If I'm not wrong, I went first. When we reached the first platform(which was made out of paper, don't ever think of standing on it), fear started to kick in. Your muscles freeze, your hands start trembling and your feet starts wobbling. Let me tell you, it is not a good feeling. I nearly reached the top of the first platform when fear got a hold. Trust me, it was scary. My involuntarily muscle climbed down the ladder(that's an understatement), until I reached Jonas behind me. Jonas said something I honestly did not expect, "You haven't climbed this far to turn back. I'll climb with you." So we climbed on, almost side by side. And finally, we saw a ray of sunlight. That's it. The fear almost disappeared. I can bet my money that in all the years of DLS, since the school was built, no one has ever reached the summit. I won't argue about who reached first, but let's just say we reached there as a team. Stepping onto the platform, you have to say some famous words right? But the best I could cook up is "Oh my God". Honestly, this experience was life-changing. I'll tell you what I learnt afterward.
------- and ---- reached the summit next. We spent the next few minutes breathing in the magnificent view and taking pictures. I can not describe the feeling with just a keyboard.
The descent, in my opinion, was much easier, mainly because your more sure of yourself. Hearing the description of the summit, 3 more wanted to join us:Shawn, Joel and ----. After more planning, we set off. First it was Jonas with Shawn. But Jonas moved much quicker. Why? Shawn was freaked out--really freaked out--not even halfway there. Joel continued up, overtaking Shawn in no time. I was next. I had to stop with Shawn, c'mon, how could you leave him behind. I wished I had a camera with me to take a picture of how freaked out Shawn looked. I had to yell at Shawn before he finally started moving. At a snail's pace is an misnomer. He was moving more like a sloth. When we finally reached the summit, Shawn muscles had frozen. We took more pictures again and remember 17th November 2006 as the day the clocktower was scaled. It was there that the secret 7 was formed. I'll be honest, I did not want to go back down.
So what have I learnt? Through all hard times, we must persevere.
James 1:12 "Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him." You might not like in the first place, but it produces a harvest of godliness and goodness. "And God is faithful; he will not let you be tested beyond your power to remain firm, He will give you the strenght to endure, and so provide you a way out." 1 Corinthian 10:13 That way out came in the warm rays of the sunlight that urged me to continue the final steps up. Jonas said once again I did not expect him to say."This is what it must feel when God encourages you up all the way to the top." And the harvest? A magnificent view of the school and a wonderful time with friends.
OK, back to the tour. No wait, it just ended. I realised I haven't done something very important. Dedications. Ok, here goes.
Shawn: What's up, hottie? Funny, hot, cute, all rolled into one package. The one who introduced me to Simpsons. Always laughing! Rock on man!
Jonas: Hey, little hobbit! Your hair, I'm going to miss it the most. It's comical, the way you love Shawn and yet still strangle him. Maths wizard, got into Hwa Chong. Don't disappoint me, rock on!
Nathan: Berboi! Honestly, you have a natural sense of humour. Can laugh myself to death by ur jokes. The next time I see you, I want you to kill me with the best joke. Stay funny!
Shakthi: Man, do u irritate me sometimes. And yet, your sense of humour makes me laugh, thought it hails in comparision to Nathan. Rock on!
Joel: Yeah, we fought, so what? You still rock as a sports leader!.Stay the same!
Keegan: Yo, cool dude! Your basketball is the best, always laughing. Stay shuai forever!
Brandon: I know you won't read this, but what the heck. You're so cute! Honestly! I always want to squeeze ur cheeks as hards as I can! Rock on, you "adorable overgrown baby".
Sherry: I said it bfore I'll say it again, my childish mentality of girls changed when I met you. ALways smiling and laughing(seems to b a trend for all best friends), rock on!
Livia: I honestly do not understand why I hated you in P4. You rock so much! Stay the same!
Cass: Hey, miss bi gu. Your basketball is second best(i mean that in a good way, who can beat keegan?), and your trek and field is the best! Maintain your hunger for God!
Celeste: When i was in P5, some E-class people told me how bad u are. BUt after one year with you, I can say to them with the deepest of conviction, "Celeste rocks!" Keep that stare up, it slices to the heart!
Eunice: Super good in art! And your trek and field rocks too! Get into your dream school and rock on!
All in all, I'm going to miss this school. I can say to God with all my heart,"God, you have been so good. You provided me with such good friends. God you have been so good. So good to me." Friends are friends forever, if the Lord's the Lord of them. And a friend wil not say "never", cause the welcome will not end. Though it's hard to let you go, in the Father's hands we know, that a lifetime's not too long to live as friends. Looking at DLS from the outside, I realised I'm not saying goodbye to just a school. I'm saying goodbye to the bestest of friends and the best 6 years of my life.
Tuesday, November 14, 2006
-5:34 PM
Very touched. Someone actually reads my post. So I am inspired to keep posting, even though only one person might be reading it.
Christmas is coming. Everyone in the world are celebrating Christmas, and yet not know what the meaning of Christmas is. They usually associate Christmas with presents, Christmas trees, Santa Claus(doesn't make sense actually) and all kinds of lunacy. What is the true meaning of Christmas?
Let me take you back to the beginning of the world. Long, long time ago, before even time began, God made the earth. The first humans, Adam and Eve were friends of God; they were
made right with God. But then sin entered this earth through disobedience. From then, humans were seperated from God and almost every human died. Not dying in a physical way, no, there's a worst kind of death. It's dying a spiritual death, being seperated from God for eternity. Satan actually thought he had won. But he didn't knew that the script was written already. God actually said to Satan, "And I will put enmity between you and the woman and between your offspring and hers;
he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel."
The person who would crush Satan was born on Christmas night. For Jesus Christ didn't come to condemn the world, but to save the world.[John 3:17] He preached the good news to "repent, for the kingdom of God is at hand."
"For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in him will not perish but have everlasting life." John 3:16
Christ came into this world to save the world by dying for sins of everyone of you. "He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth." [Isaiah 53:7] Like chuyi said, nails didn't keep Jesus on the cross. Love did. He loves you. He wants to spend eternity with you in paradise. What is the condition?
It's definitely not through good works or observing the law. For whoever relies on observing the law is under a curse, for it is written,"Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do
everything written in the Book of Law."[Deut 27:26] makes sense to you? no? well, no one can obey
everything in the Book of Law. no, our righteousness are like filthy rags. What's the answer then? Faith. "The righteous will live by faith." [Habbakuk 2:4] Put your faith in Jesus Christ. If ur faith is in Jesus Christ, then I'll see you in the eternal kingdom my brother/sister. It's just a simple step into the light. Just say, "Jesus I need you. I
believe in you."
I pray that whoever reads this would be willing to take that step into the light. If you are, tell me and I will pray with you.
To think that Jesus Christ would actually die for me, I would tell myself "Unworthy. Unworthy." But then I realise another thing. Justified. Justified by faith.
Saturday, November 11, 2006
-8:59 AM
i was reading a book and saw this extremely, erm, accurate description of my King. I was given by Dr Shadrah Meshach Lockridge, and his message is entitled "My King is a Seven-way King".
The Bible says my king is a seven-say king. He's the king of the Jews; that's a racial king. He's the king of Israel; that's a national king. He's the king of righteousness. He's the king of ages. He's the king of heaven. He's the king of glory. He's the king of kings. Besides being a seven-way king, He's the Lord of Lords. That's my king. Well, I wonder, do you know Him?
David said, "The heavens declare the glory of God, and the firmament showeth His handiwork." My king is a sovereign king. No means of measure can define His limitless love. No far-seeing telescope can bring into visibility the coastline of His shoreless supply. No barrier can hinder Him from pouring out His blessing.
He's enduringly strong. He's entirely sincere. He's eternally steadfast. He's immortally graceful. He's infinitely powerful. He's impartially merciful. Do you know Him?
He's the greatest phenomenon that has ever crossed the horizon of this world. He's God's Son. He's the sinner's Saviour.He's the centerpice of civilisation. He stands in the solitude of Himself. He's honest and He's unique. He's unparalleled. He's unprecedented.
He is the loftiest idea in literature. He's the highest personality in philosophy. He's the supreme problem in hihger criticsm. He's the fundamental doctrine of true theology. He's the core, the necessity for spiritual religion. He's the miracle of the ages. Yes, He is. He's the superlative of everything good that you choose to call Him. He's the only one qualified to be our all-sufficiency. I wonder if u know Him today.
He supplies strength for the weak. He's available for the tempted and tried. He symphathises and He saces. He strengthens and sustains. He guards and He Guides. He heals the sick. He cleanses the lepor. He forgives the sinner. He discharges debtors. He delivers the captive. He defends the feeble. He blessed the young. He serves the unfortunate. He regards the aged. He rewards the diligent. And He beautififes the meek. I wonder if you know him.
Well, this is my king. He's the key to knowledge. He's the wellspring of wisdom. He's the doorway to deliverance. He's the pathway of peace. He's the roadway of righteousness. He's the highway of holiness. He's the gateway of glory. Do you know him?
Well, His office is manifold. His promise is sure. His life is matchless. His goodness if limitless. His mercy is everlasting. His love never changes. His word is enough. His grace is sufficient. His reign is righteous. His yoke is easy and His burden is light. I wish I could describe Him to you.
He's indescribable. He's imcomprehensible. He's invincible. He's irresistable. Well, you can't get him out of your mind. You can't get Him off of your hand. You can't outlive Him and you can't live without Him. The Pharisees couldn't stand Him, but they found they couldn't stop Him. Pilate couldn't find any fault in Him. Herod couldn't kill Him. Death couldn't handle Him, and the grave couldn't hold Him. THAT'S MY KING!
And Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever and ever and ever and ever! How long is that? And ever and ever! And when you get through with all the forevers, then amen. Good God Almighty! Amen!
That's my king, Jesus Christ the Messiah. Now, I wonder, do you know Him?
